The Namgoong Clan remained at Mount Hua until the matters there were fully resolved.

It was partly because Namgoong Mucheon was needed to release the hypnosis on disciples whose conditions could not be lifted otherwise, and also because the elders of Mount Hua had requested that the funerals for the Namgoong warriors who died in this incident be held together at Mount Hua.

Thanks to the Namgoong Clan, they had escaped danger and cured the Sect Leader’s illness—so to Mount Hua, the Namgoong Clan was no different from a savior.

As the one who had received grace, Mount Hua observed the utmost courtesy toward the Namgoong Clan.

The past conflicts that had divided sect and noble clan no longer held meaning.

Yu Gang respectfully formed a martial salute toward Namgoong Mucheon.

“I pay my respects to the Clan Head of the Namgoong Clan.”

“I heard the story. You said you would leave Mount Hua.”

Namgoong Mucheon had heard everything about Yu Gang through No Un.

Because Yu Gang had spent much time with the Namgoong Clan while helping to resolve this incident, No Un had been attentive.

Even if that were not the case, No Un knew that Namgoong Mucheon held a favorable opinion of Yu Gang.

The reason he informed him was because he hoped that Yu Gang, who was leaving Mount Hua alone, might receive help from the Namgoong.

“It will not be an easy path.”

Namgoong Mucheon looked at Yu Gang’s dantian.

He could not be certain without a closer inspection, but just as he had heard, no energy could be felt.

“I am aware. Still, there is something I must do.”

“I am not trying to stop you. A martial artist, if he has something he must accomplish, may choose to leave the nest. However...”

Namgoong Mucheon pulled something from within his robes and tossed it to Yu Gang.

Yu Gang reflexively caught it—and his eyes widened.

It was a coin pouch. And quite heavy.

“There is no need to starve unnecessarily. Strength comes from a full stomach, and with strength, one may achieve what one desires.”

“...”

“Your martial seniors may have prepared something for you as well, but Taoists who have always kept themselves distant from wealth—how much could they have really given? Once you step outside, you will find things cost more than you expected. Keep it with you.”

For some reason, tears threatened to fall.

He wanted to say thank you, but his voice might tremble, so he clenched his teeth and fixed his gaze firmly on Namgoong Mucheon.

“Take this as well.”

Once again, something flew toward him.

It was a command token inscribed with Namgoong Mucheon’s name.

“If you run out of money or are ever in need, bring that to the Namgoong Clan. Whatever you require, we shall provide it.”

It was the command token of the Namgoong Clan Head.

The token of none other than the Celestial Dragon Sword Emperor, one of the Ten Great Masters, weighed heavier than gold.

His tears vanished in an instant.

Yu Gang looked back at him in astonishment.

“Clan Head, this is far too much for me...”

“Did you not protect my granddaughters at Suro Stronghold?”

He had looked after Hwarin and taken a blade in Seolhwa’s place.

Namgoong Mucheon knew all of it.

“The reason my old friend Jade Plum Sword was able to survive was also thanks to you—so that makes you my benefactor.”

“That is...”

He had wanted to say it was he who should be thankful, since Yu Gang had saved his Sect Leader—but he could not finish the sentence.

That man was no longer his Sect Leader.

“Do not think it excessive. It is woefully insufficient. The Namgoong Clan’s principle is to repay grace tenfold—but because you are leaving so suddenly, this meager offering was all I could prepare in time.”

Meager? Far from it.

Who could possibly call the command token of the Namgoong Clan meager?

But because of Namgoong Mucheon’s words, Yu Gang could no longer refuse his gift.

To refuse by calling it excessive would be to belittle the Namgoong Clan’s generosity.

With both the coin pouch and the command token in hand, Yu Gang bowed.

“I will accept it with gratitude. I shall not use the money or the token carelessly.”

“Good. Then go.”

Yu Gang bowed once more toward Namgoong Mucheon, then turned and began to walk.

As he passed by, Namgoong Mucheon spoke.

“Go east.”

Yu Gang turned to look at him.

East?

He was about to ask why he was told to go east, but instead, he simply bowed again and walked in that direction.

He had no set destination anyway—what did it matter where he went?

As he watched Yu Gang walk away, Namgoong Mucheon murmured softly.

“You truly insist on taking a difficult path. If fate permits, you may encounter a great opportunity. Go on and soar freely.”

He looked up toward the sky.

It was a night with an especially bright, full moon.

“I wonder what my granddaughter is doing right now.”

****

Whooooo...

Black smoke coiled around Seolhwa.

She opened her eyes.

How much time had passed?

At times, waves of pain had swept over her, and at times, her consciousness had grown faint.

The inner force contained in the imugi’s fragment far surpassed her expectations. No—it was only natural that she could not even fathom the power of a being like an imugi.

[You have done well.]

Seolhwa looked toward the imugi gliding silently to her side.

Its enormous body had disappeared, and now it was beside her in the form of a small snake.

Come to think of it, the void of darkness surrounding the space had vanished, replaced by an ordinary forest filled with grass and trees.

[I have infused all of my inner force into you. The formation that maintains this space still remains, but it serves only to block uninvited intruders. It will vanish soon enough.]

So that was it.

No wonder she had sensed no presence nearby.

She had thought she had wandered into a deep mountain forest, but it had been the formation that prevented intrusion.

[Before the formation disappears, become accustomed to my power. As this is my domain, it will be easier to wield my force here. If I leave the formation, the formation itself will vanish—so if you wish to continue training, you must not leave.]

“How should I use your inner force?”

[Try using it freely. I can read your thoughts anyway, so the energy will move as you will it to.]

Hmm.

The thing she was most familiar with, after all, was infusing energy into the sword.

Seolhwa immediately drew her sword and wrapped it in inner force.

“!”

Thick black smoke densely surrounded the sword. It looked as if darkness itself had enveloped the blade.

It was qi reinforcement. True qi reinforcement.

[Ho... You are better than I thought. Even with my inner force, if you could not understand the flow of energy, you would not be able to use it. So, you have already awakened qi reinforcement?]

“!”

Seolhwa’s gaze trembled slightly.

If one understood the flow of inner force, they could use it accordingly?

‘That means...’

Seolhwa reached out her hand toward a small stone a short distance away.

Black smoke coiled around the stone, and it slowly began to rise.

[Ho....]

‘It worked...!’

Object Manipulation from Afar (Gyeokgong Seobmul).

A supernatural ability achievable only by those who had reached the Hwagyeong Realm.

In her previous life, Seolhwa had reached that realm.

Although she had ascended through blood arts without enlightenment, her understanding of energy manipulation had been gained through direct use of force, and thus, she fundamentally understood it.

[How is that possible? Have you reached the Hwagyeong Realm before?]

“That cannot be.”

The imugi had only glimpsed her desires through impressions formed from Seolhwa’s memories. It had not seen all her memories.

Though she had received its power, and the two were now bound inseparably, Seolhwa still could not fully trust the imugi—so she chose to remain silent about her past life.

Thunk.

The stone soon lost its power and dropped to the ground.

[It is simply because you are not yet accustomed to it. Since you are not directly manipulating the inner force, it must feel unnatural.]

Just as it said—though she had obtained a strength difficult to acquire even in a lifetime, using it felt incredibly awkward.

As if she were moving someone else’s body.

Like lifting a cup to drink water, but using a hand that was not her own.

Whooo....

She tried drawing up her own internal energy.

A haze-like qi of the Pinnacle Realm rose from her body just as before.

‘This part remains unchanged.’

[Your power is yours to use, and mine is mine. However, unless you maintain focus, the flow of energy will be cut off just like before. Do not forget that the use of inner force is based on your thoughts.]

“I understand.”

Indeed, the imugi’s inner force lacked any physical sensation, making it difficult to concentrate while wielding it.

Using two forces simultaneously seemed especially difficult.

‘I need time.’

To grow accustomed to this power would require no small amount of time and effort.

[Hm. A guest has arrived.]

Just as she was about to try moving the energy again, the imugi suddenly looked in a certain direction.

[This is a path people seldom walk. Yet thanks to you, we have many visitors.]

Many visitors?

‘Is he talking about Grandfather?’

Seolhwa turned to look in the direction the imugi was watching.

A familiar figure was wandering through the forest, glancing around.

[Someone you know?]

“...Someone I know.”

It was Yu Gang.

[That child is quite unusual as well. A body that possesses inner force yet cannot use it. Was he attacked?]

“...What?”

What was that supposed to mean?

A body that possessed inner force yet could not use it?

‘No way...!’

The Fifth Blood Lord...?

Seolhwa ran toward where Yu Gang was.

But she had to stop in front of him.

The boundary of the formation.

Yu Gang stood just beyond that edge.

“There’s... something here...”

Muttering to himself while looking around, he suddenly stopped and stared straight ahead.

His gaze landed squarely on Seolhwa.

‘He can... see me?’

No.

From outside the formation, it should appear as nothing more than a rocky cliff.

But he was looking right at her, as if he truly saw her.

“You’re there... aren’t you?”

“!”

Seolhwa’s pupils trembled faintly.

He was definitely looking at her.

Yu Gang’s lips curved into a deep arc.

“So you are there.”